This was a pretty good episode of NXT: all the matches were pretty good and they did a good building up stories toward Stand and Deliver. The highlight of the show was the segment with Johnny Gargano and Grayson Waller. If you're going to have an unsanctioned match then you have to ramp up the heat between the two and they've done just that with this feud. The lowlight of the show was ironically Eddy Thorpe’s debut. He looked good but the match itself wasn't anything special.
While most of the matches were good, none of them quite reached the level of great. This episode felt pretty easy to watch but some of the mid-card matches hurt the overall flow. The atmosphere was good at times and just ok at other points in the show. The only thing hurting the storytelling was the Thorpe match and the Gulak-Walker match not advancing the story very much. production/them was hurt by the lack of a theme.
Tonight on NXT: title match spots are up for grabs in the men’s and women’s divisions. On the men’s side, a battle royal to see who will join the fatal five-way for the North American Championship. On the women’s side, Indi Hartwell, Ivy Nile, and Sol Suca fight for the last spot in the ladder match for the NXT Women’s Championship. And Grayson Waller responds to Johnny Gargano’s challenge for an unsanctioned match.
GOOD 20-Man Battle Royal to earn a spot in the fatal five-way for the North American Championship at Stand and Deliver:
DIjak was eliminated by a trio that included Odyssey Jines. In revenge, Dijak attacked Jones which allowed Jinder Mahal to eliminate Jones easily. Later, Apollo Crews showed off his strength when he lifted Javier Bernal over his head and threw him out of the ring. This match came down to Nathan Frazer and Axiom. Frazer avoided elimination after taking a superkick and sliding back into the ring. It wasn’t enough, as Axiom successfully tossed Frazer over the top rope immediately after.
Results: Axiom by Eliminating Nathan Frazer
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Andre Chase and the rest of Chase U got hyped for Tyler Bate’s match. Although Duke Hudson’s enthusiasm was noticeably lacking.
Kiana James confessed something to Brooks and Jensen, but not what Fallon Henley thought. James got Brooks and Jensen into a triple-threat match with the opportunity to advance to Stand and Deliver.
GOOD Von Wagner vs Tyler Bates:
Bates is quicker than Wagner but he couldn’t outmaneuver a big boot from the big man. Bates did eventually gain the advantage but lost it due to interference from Mr. Stone. Thea Hail got revenge for her stablemate by delivering a beatdown to Mr. Stone. The attack continued with Bates leaping over the top and onto Stone. Back in the match, the Big Strong Boy picked up the win with a Spinning Boy. after the match, Schism showed a video package promising destruction for Chase U.
Results: Tyler Bates by Pinfall via Spinning Boy
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Shawn Michaels told Roxanne Perez about his decision to crown a new champion at Stand and Deliver because of the exhaustion and anxiety Perez suffered from. Perez wasn’t deterred and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Michaels relented, allowing Perez to defend her title.
ABOVE AVERAGE Valentina Feroz vs Elektra Lopez:
Lopez controlled the match early on, overpowering Feroz. The tenacious Brazilian battled back and made several pin attempts but didn’t get close to finishing the job. Lopez won the match off an Elektric Shock.
Results: Elektra Lopez by Pinfall via Elektric Shock
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
ABOVE AVERAGE Eddy Thorpe vs Myles Borne:
Despite the hyped debut, Borne was in control to start this match. Eddy Thorpe had Borne reeling after a running big boot in the corner. In the end, Thorpe managed to pull out the win.
Results: Eddy Thorpe by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
Gallus is not afraid of defending their titles against multiple teams at Stand and Deliver.
GOOD Sol Ruca vs Ivy Nile vs Indi Hartwell in a Last Chance qualifier match:
After Nile and Hartwell ended up outside the ring, Ruca moonsaulted off the top rope onto her opponents. Nile had Indi Hartwell locked into her submission move but Sol Ruca broke it up with a Sol Snatcher. Hartwell recovered in time to throw Ruca out of the ring and stole the win by pinning Ivy Nile. After the match, the other four competitors joined Hartwell for a staredown, champion Roxanne Perez among them.
Results: Indi Hartwell by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Pretty Deadly recapped the storyline of the women’s title match and dropped some predictions.
GOOD Hank Walker vs Drew Gulak:
The former master and student proved adept at countering submission attempts from each other. Gulak’s experience helped him to gain the advantage, hitting Walker with a neck breaker and nearly pinning him. Hank Walker proved a worthy opponent, locking in a submission hold but Gulak got the rope break. However, interference from Charlie Dempsey helped Gulak to pick up the win.
Results: Drew Gulak by Pinfall via Rollup
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Pretty Deadly gave the rundown on the tag title match at Stand and Deliver.
GOOD Tony D’Angelo and Stacks Lorenzo vs Briggs and Jensen:
Lorenzo and D’Angelo hit Briggs with some combo offense but only got a one-count. Later, Brooks and Jensen nearly picked up the victory but Tony D broke up the pin. In the end, D’Angelo and Lorenzo picked up the victory. After the match, Fallon Henley insisted Kiana James tell Brooks the truth. She kissed him instead.
Results: Tony D’Angelo and Stacks Lorenzo by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
GOOD Grayson Waller responds to Johnny Gargano’s challenge for an unsanctioned match:
Waller opened the promo segment by talking about his NXT journey. He put his body on the line in WarGames but it was Gargano who is remembered. Then, Waller pointed out that Gargano was now begging him for the match. Gargano’s music hit and as Walelr waited for him, Gargano revealed himself as the cameraman. The two men ended the show with a brawl.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Overall…
This was a pretty good episode of NXT: all the matches were pretty good and they did a good building up stories toward Stand and Deliver. The highlight of the show was the segment with Johnny Gargano and Grayson Waller. If you’re going to have an unsanctioned match then you have to ramp up the heat between the two and they’ve done just that with this feud. The lowlight of the show was ironically Eddy Thorpe’s debut. He looked good but the match itself wasn’t anything special.
While most of the matches were good, none of them quite reached the level of great. This episode felt pretty easy to watch but some of the mid-card matches hurt the overall flow. The atmosphere was good at times and just ok at other points in the show. The only thing hurting the storytelling was the Thorpe match and the Gulak-Walker match not advancing the story very much. production/them was hurt by the lack of a theme.
Matches: 0.25/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
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